Round The States

New Delhi, 30 October 2014

Delhi Elections

TO HOLD OR NOT TO HOLD?

By Insaf

Nagging uncertainty lingers around the nation’s capital Delhi. How soon will elections be held and what form of Government it will have in place, is uppermost on everyone’s mind. Lt Governor Najeeb Jung has been far too elusive, inviting both the Congress and AAP’s wrath, which have been demanding dissolution of Assembly and fresh election. They accuse him of appeasing the BJP Government at the Centre. However, the Supreme Court which has been dealing with AAP’s petition for early elections appears to be satisfied that Jung is making positive moves to form the Government by consulting the parties. But, it cannot go on forever, is its warning. The BJP, which is the largest party, but devoid of a majority, is keeping stoic silence whether it would stake claim, if asked. At the same time, unlike its opponents it’s not clamouring for polls either. Guess, it wants to test waters first and is sitting pretty till the results of the three byelections in November-end are out. If it wins all three then its tally will go up to 32, taking it closer to the magical number of 36. But not yet there as there is no question of either the AAP or the Congress offering support. However, time is on its side. February 17 is a long way off for President’s rule to expire. It gives enough time for the Election Commission to hold polls. Will the others patience run out by then?  

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BJP’s Maharashtra Govt

The political race in Maharashtra is inching closer to a grand finish. The State has finally got its first BJP Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who has staked claim to form the Government as the single largest party and got two weeks to prove majority. The doors for a backdoor claim for the top seat by Union Minister Nitin Gadkari were astutely shut. With that done, the BJP has now to only firm up its mind whether it wants to take estranged partner Shiv Sena along with it or not. At its end, the SS too has to decide whether it’s better to be a junior partner or lead the Opposition. The uncertainty has to do with the NCP offer to the BJP that it will abstain from voting when it moves a confidence motion in the Assembly. If it keeps its words, then the BJP needs only 124 to get a majority in the strength of 247 instead of 288, as NCP has 41 MLAs. That’s easy. While two weeks in hand to clinch matters makes BJP comfortable, the party has decided to have a small Cabinet for starters, making room for last minute tie-ups. Hope its celebrations from Wankhede stadium last the full innings.             

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Haryana Nuisance For Cong

Haryana spell further doom for the Congress. The first BJP Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar’s announcements made promptly after taking over the reins should give 10 Janpath sleepless nights. Khattar has decided ‘in principle’ to investigate all land deals made by the previous Congress Government of Bhupinder Singh Hooda. This includes those involving Congress President Sonia Gandhi’s son-in-law Robert Vadra controversial land deals, which have been in the news since General elections. Not only was there alleged violation of legal provisions for granting ‘change in land use’, but 70,000-odd acres is said to have been acquired from farmers at a pittance and sold to developers at huge profits. In addition, the Government has warned it would review all announcements and decisions viz appointments or recruitments made after May 16 by Hooda. Recall appointments to the State Information Commission and the Right to Service Commission are mired in controversy. Apparently, a list of “corrupt babus” is already in place with Khattar. While he may say his Government will not be vindictive, how soon skeletons tumble out of the cupboard, is to be watched.

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Nagaland-Assam Row

The Centre has had to step in with Nagaland’s SOS to it. The Joint Action Committee for Autonomous State of Karbi Anglong, hill district of Assam has launched a 1,000-hour bandh on Monday last, adding to Kohima’s woes. Chief Minister T R Zeliang met Home Minister Rajnath Singh urging intervention to ensure that road communication is not impacted with the adjoining hill State. Both Manipur and Nagaland have been facing numerous problems with frequent bandhs in Assam for issues which the two States have no connection. The JACAS has been demanding creation of an autonomous State encompassing the two hill districts on the basis of its proposal submitted last year and the latest move is to pressurise the Centre to introduce a Bill in the forthcoming winter session of Parliament. While Singh gave a patient hearing, he also dealt with the disputed boundary issue between the two States and asked Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi and Zeliang to work towards a resolution. Both are to send suggestions within two weeks. Fingers are being crossed for a solution in sight.

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Punjab’s Chandigarh  

Is Punjab and New Delhi heading towards opposite directions, is a question doing the rounds in political circles. The whispers of a rift between NDA partners Shiromani Akali Dal and the BJP during the recent Haryana election after the former chose to back the INLD instead of going with its ally are growing louder. This, after Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal at a recent function in Amritsar raised the decades-old issue of having Chandigarh as its exclusive capital and getting its legitimate share of river waters. Though Punjab built the capital, it is shared with Haryana and has remained a dispute since 1986. The timing of Badal’s assertion has caught the attention of the newly-formed first BJP government in Haryana. Its leaders have posed a counter saying Punjab should clear issues such as handing over all Hindi-speaking areas to Haryana and SYL canal water to it first. Will the issue become hot and dent relations, is worth a watch.   

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Kerala Liquor Ban Stays

The Congress-led UDF Government in Kerala is ‘happy high’ as its new liquor policy has got the green signal. On Thursday last, the Kerala High Court upheld the ban on liquor and quashed the bar owners’ petition which challenged the Government policy on grounds of it being discriminatory. The policy of the State, which has the highest per capita consumption of alcohol in the country, allows limited sale of alcohol to five-star hotels and Government-owned retail stores (Bevcos). The HC, has however, added four-star hotels. Over a period of time, about 1,418 bars have since closed down following the administration’s decision not to renew their licenses. Some 80-odd owners had approached the Supreme Court in August on grounds that different standards were being applied between them and five-star hotels and thus status quo be maintained. The apex court obliged and asked the High Court to decide the matter expeditiously. The bar owners reprieve was indeed short lived. Can they knock on the Supreme Court’s door again or let the government achieve its noble goal? --- INFA

(Copyright, India News & Feature Alliance)